What to Text After a First Date: 5 Examples of What to Say

You met a girl you liked, asked her out, and had a great first date. Now, the pressure is on to keep the momentum going. Sending a follow-up text is important if you want to see her again. It’s your chance to be flirty, show off your playful side, and lay the groundwork for a second date. But what should you say?

If you’re wondering what to text after a first date, you’re not alone. It’s an intimidating text to send, but we can help. If you hit it off and want to see her again, here are examples of what to text a girl after a first date:

1. Make sure she got home safely.To text, or not to text? Texting a girl after you see her is a hot topic that daters are divided on. If you hit it off and it feels right, a sneaky way to start a quick conversation before bed is texting to make sure she got home safely. Try saying: Let me know when you get home safely! Or: Just wanted to make sure you got home safely. Have a good night! You’ll earn bonus chivalry points, too.

2. If you had a great time on the date, tell her!Those first date nerves you’re feeling? She’s feeling them, too. That voice in the back of your mind asking, Do you think she had a good time? She’s hearing it, too. So, if you enjoyed going out with her, you should tell her. You might assume it goes without saying, but it doesn’t. Girls want to hear that you had a great time. Try saying: I really enjoyed getting to know you tonight. Thanks for such a fun evening. Or: I had a feeling our date was going to be fun, but somehow, it was even more fun than I imagined. Thanks for spending your Saturday night with me. It shows her that you’re into her and helps lay the groundwork for a second date.

3. Mention a specific part of the date that made you smile.Call back to one of the funny, quirky, or unexpected moments of your date—the ones that will put her back in the mindset of how much fun she had on the date, too. Try saying something like: I can’t believe you’ve never seen “The Godfather.” I thought it was mandatory viewing for all humans. Or: I can’t stop chuckling about how our waiter pronounced the word “gnocchi.” I don’t know how you kept a straight face the whole night. It’ll get her thinking about how much she’d like to see you again. Which brings us to…

4. Tell her you’d like to go on a second date.Women don’t like it when a guy wastes their time. After a first date, if you hit it off, she’s inevitably thinking about the prospect of a second date. So, if you’re feeling it, let her know that you’d like to see her again—and show her that you mean it by suggesting an idea. Try saying something like: I had a really nice time with you, and I’d like to see you again. We were great at getting drinks, so I think we’d really knock dinner out of the park. Are you free on Friday? Or: I really enjoyed going out with you. I hope it’s not too soon to ask you on a second date, because that’s exactly what I’m doing right now. How’s Saturday night? Women appreciate honesty and straightforwardness.

5. If you didn’t have a great time on the date, it’s okay to tell her that, too.The only thing worse than being rejected is somebody wasting your time. You don’t owe her a long explanation, but if you just weren’t feeling the date, sending a courtesy text is much better than ghosting her. Keep it short, simple, and polite. Try saying: I had a nice time with you tonight, but I just didn’t feel a romantic connection. I wish you the best and if we ever run into each other again, I hope we can be friends. Chances are, she feels the same way and will be relieved that you said something. If she doesn’t respond kindly, you don’t need to engage beyond that.

Texting after a first date is important. It might make you feel vulnerable, but don’t be afraid to put yourself out there. Remember: Confidence is sexy.